AN: Thank you all so much for the feedback and support. I am really new to this show and it means a lot that you are liking this story, especially since it has bee so long since I have written anything. Your comments are very motivating :)
*****
Tony and Gibbs both visibly tensed as Bellingham and Sheldon entered the room. Gibbs decided to speak up first before Dinozzo even had a chance to open his mouth. "I think its about time you told us who you are and what this is all about, don't you?" He made a concerted effort to keep his tone calm and cool.
"What? No good morning? How are you today? Wherever did you learn your manners, Agent Gibbs?" Bellingham smiled widely, obviously relishing the situation. He turned his attention towards Tony. "And what about you, Agent Dinozzo? I trust you're enjoying the accomodations?"
"Well, now that you mention it, the bed is kinda shabby and the room service is definitely lacking," Dinozzo replied. "You might want to think about updating or you're not going to be getting any customers."
Bellingham laughed. "Not to worry, Agent Dinozzo. We're not really concerned with getting any new occupants here. You and Agent Gibbs are our very special guests."
"Well gee, that just makes me feel all warm and cozy inside, but if we really are your so called 'guests,' we don't want to overstay our welcome. So how about you show us how to get out of here and we'll be on our way?"
"Oh don't be silly, we've hardly had a chance to get acquainted." Bellingham was finding the banter with the young agent to be quite enjoyable. It was almost a shame what was going to happen to him, but it had to be done.
"No? I thought you would have gotten up close and personal with that camera you've got up there," Dinozzo retorted.
Gibbs was quickly tiring of the conversation between whoever this guy was and his agent. It was getting nothing accomplished as far as useful information went. "Let's cut to the chase. Who the hell are you and what do you want with us?" Gibbs growled, his icy blue eyes blazing in a barely controlled rage.
"Temper, temper, Agent Gibbs. Haven't you ever heard the saying you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar?" Bellingham was still smiling which was further fueling Gibbs' irritation.
"Actually, there are theories that its actually the other way around, that vinegar catches more flies than honey." Tony contradicted.
"Really..." Bellingham pondered that for a few moments before the smile left his face. The fun and games were over. It was time to get serious and he turned his attention towards Gibbs. "In answer to your question, my name is Charles Bellingham," he began. He chuckled, noting the blank look on Gibbs' face. "I knew that wouldn't mean a thing to you. You have never met me, nor did you know my name. You did, however meet my daughter, though she wasn't alive at the time..."
Gibbs and Dinozzo exchanged troubled glances. This definitely was not good. "What was your daughter's name?" Gibbs asked softly.
"Elizabeth...Elizabeth Burgess. Her mother and I always called her Lizzie. She was a naval officer. She had an exemplary record...was married to a wonderful man, until she was raped and murdered almost five years ago. She had a whole lifetime ahead of her and it was snuffed out in the blink of an eye, in the most horrific way possible.
Recognition was slowly dawning in Gibbs' eyes as the memories returned. A serial killer who had targeted young and beautiful female naval officers. They had managed to catch the perpetrator relatively quickly, but not before the brutal deaths of three young women. "She was his final victim," Gibbs remembered.
"That's right, Gibbs." Bellingham's tone was bitter, his eyes filled with accusation. "You caught the bastard right after he murdered Lizzie...too little, too late..."
"Boss?" Tony questioned uncertainly. He had no recollection whatsoever of this case.
"You were on sick leave, Tony." Gibbs answered his agent's unsoken question. "It was when you were out with the pneumonic plaque. Kate and I handled the case". He deliberately left McGee's name out, not wanting to gve this guy yet another target to focus on.
"Yes...Caitlin Todd. I wanted to get her too." Bellingham said angrily. "Unfortunately, somene beat me to the punch. He did a good job though...I just wish he had left me the honors."
"Shut up. You shut up about her!" Tony shouted. He shuddered slightly as the day of Kate's shooting came flooding back into his mind. Even after all these years, he could recall every vivid detail of that horrific day on the rooftop, her blood splattered all over his face, the sightless expression in her eyes. It was a scene that he knew would be etched in his memory for the rest of his life.
"Tony..." Gibbs cautioned softly. He'd been there too and had a good idea of the memories assaulting his young agent, but now was not the time to dwell on them. They needed to keep themselves together.
"It seems I've struck a nerve," Bellingham observed.
"Look...why don't you just let us go?" Tony stared at Bellingham, his eyes pleading. "What happened to your daughter was a terrible, terrible thing. But you're blaming
the wrong people. The guy who killed her is to blame, certainly not Gibbs or Kate. They would have done everything humanly possible to get the guy who killed those women."
"You weren't there," Bellingham stated.
"I know Gibbs," Tony said. "He would never..."
"Look, I understand you have a beef with me." Gibbs interrupted, breaking back into the conversation. "But you said it yourself, Tony wasn't there. He had the plaque. He was really, really sick. He almost died for God's sake. He had nothing to do with this. He doesn't deserve this." Gibbs was trying to appeal to Bellingham's emotions, praying that the guy had some humanity in him. If he couldn't get out of this mess maybe he could get Tony out at least.
"That's true..." Bellingam looked thoughtful, at least appearing to consider that.
Gibbs hoped he was beginning to get Bellingham to really think about what he was doing. "I'm sure your daughter wouldn't want this. surely your wife doesn't approve..."
At that, Bellingham's expression darkened considerably. "My wife? She's not in any condition to approve or disapprove. My wife is dead, Agent Gibbs...she is DEAD," he hissed. "She died two years ago from an overdose of medication. They say it was accidental, but I know better. She just couldn't live with what had happened to Lizzie...she couldn't take the pain any longer."
"I'm sorry about your wife," Gibbs began.
"Shut up about my wife!" Bellingham had had just about enough. He didn't want false sympathy from the man who had destroyed his family. He needed to move things along. "Now, I know both of you are, or should I say used to be, Federal agents, but neither of you has even asked about my occupation," Bellingham said. "I'm sure you've heard of Bellingham Pharmaceutucals. My father was the founder of the company and I am the current CEO. I've had some of my scientists cook up some special little treats. He nodded towards Tony. "Get him on his feet, Sheldon." Sheldon, a sneer on his lips, approached Dinozzo and yanked him harshly up into a standing position. All three men watched as Bellingham reached into his pocket and pulled out a small vinyl case. He unzippered the case and pulled out a fluid-filled syringe.
Tony's eyes widened in fear and his heart started beating rapidly, Somehow, he knew this wasn't going to be an injection of truth serum.
"Leave him alone!" Gibbs tone was sharp, almost desperate, as he struggled to his feet. "Look. its me you want, not him. You weren't even expecting him to be there last night, were you?"
"No, I wasn't expecting him. It just turned out to be an added bonus," Bellingham admitted. "Almost like it was just meant to be."
"Listen, I know you want revenge against me, but this isn't the way to do it," Gibbs said. "He has a father. Do you really want to put another father through the same kind of pain you and your wife went through?" He was grasping at straws, trying to hit on something to focus Bellingham's attention from Tony onto himself.
"Ah yes...Anthony Dinozzo, Sr...I read about him on the Internet. I understand he's quite a wealthy guy. If I needed the money, I could have ransomed you off...unfortunately for you though...I don't need the money...
Tony didn't bother to correct Bellingham's assumptions about his father's wealth or rather his current lack of wealth. He was mesmorized by the syringe and was unable to take his eyes off it.
"Well...enough chatter...I don't suppose we need to prolong the inevitable. Hold him still, Sheldon," Bellingham ordered as he approached them. Tony struggled to get away but Sheldon's grasp was ironclad and he was unable to move. In the meantime, two more armed men had entered the room with their guns trained on Gibbs, who really couldn't have managed to do anything while in handcuffs anyway. "This will only hurt for a moment, young man." Without further fanfare, Bellingham pushed up the sleeves of Tony's jacket and shirt and injected the contents of the syringe into his arm.
Tony winced slightly as the needle penetrated his skin and he felt a rush of burning pain as the liquid entered his bloodstream. He staggered slightly as Sheldon suddenly released him.
"Now to prove I'm not entirely heartless, I'm going to uncuff you," Bellingham said as he fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a key. "Any funny business at all though, you'll both be cuffed for the duration of your stay. He approached Gibbs first and unlocked the cuffs while Gibbs silently stood and stared with an unreadable expression in his eyes. He then uncuffed Tony. "I'm very sorry, young man," he said as he gently patted Tony's shoulder. "Unfortunately, there are always innocent victims in any war..." He then turned and rapidly walked out of the room followed by his three men. The door closed behind them and Tony and Gibbs were left alone.